01 · The problem
What is happening
Non-recycled waste is incinerated for energy recovery, and the resulting ash plus non-incinerable waste is deposited at Semakau Landfill, the country's only remaining landfill site. Because land is finite, extending the landfill's life depends directly on reducing waste generated and increasing material recovery. National policy has therefore focused on a circular economy approach, including packaging reporting and extended producer responsibility for electronics.
High severity. Serious, widespread effects requiring sustained action. Severity is descriptive editorial metadata summarising documented effects. It is not a measured index or a score.
02 · Causes
Why it is happening
- 01
Severe land scarcity
There is effectively no space for conventional landfill within the national territory.
- 02
High consumption and packaging volumes
An affluent, dense, import-dependent economy generates substantial packaging and disposable material.
- 03
Low recovery rates for some materials
Domestic recycling rates for materials such as plastics remain well below those for industrial metals and construction debris.
03 · Impacts
Who and what it affects
- 01
Finite landfill life
Semakau Landfill has a limited remaining capacity, and every tonne of ash shortens it.
- 02
Emissions from incineration
Waste-to-energy recovers electricity but still releases carbon dioxide and requires emissions control.
- 03
Resource loss
Materials that are incinerated rather than recovered are permanently lost from the economy.
04 · Solutions
Documented approaches
Waste-to-energy incineration
Incineration reduces waste volume substantially while recovering electricity.
Expected effectExtends landfill life; does not remove the need to reduce waste at source.
Extended producer responsibility
Obligations on producers for packaging and electronic waste, including reporting and take-back.
Expected effectShifts the cost and design incentive toward recoverable products.
Circular economy measures
Food waste segregation, materials recovery and reuse targets under national waste strategy.
Expected effectReduces the volume requiring incineration and the ash sent to landfill.
05 · Key indicators
What can be measured
- Landfill sites
- One
Semakau Landfill is the country's only remaining landfill. Its projected closure year is published and updated by the national environment agency.
06 · Sources
Where this comes from
- [1]Waste statistics and overall recyclingNational Environment Agency, Singaporenea.gov.sg(opens in a new tab)
- [2]Zero Waste MasterplanMinistry of Sustainability and the Environment, Singapore · Aug 2019mse.gov.sg(opens in a new tab)
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